Silenced

Someone recommended this movie to me: Silenced/The Crucible/도가니. It is a Korean Movie which describes about multiple sexual and violence abuse of deaf students by the teachers. This is based on a true event that happened in one of the deaf schools in Korea back in the early 2000s.

I was warned to get ready tissue papers, but I did not expect the darkness and the heaviness of movie; I watched it before I zzz. This movie isn't for everyone. People who have been reading my blog probably knows that I worked as a sign language interpreter few years back and how close I am with the Deaf. This movie reminded me of the advantages that people took from the handicapped and how cruel and indifferent humans can be.

In the real events, the culprits were not punished, they were let off easily due to corruption from the police to the judges. Sounds ridiculous? It does, but it is very real.

We live in a (almost) corruption-free country and therefore, more protected against the dark side of humans. If such thing happened in Singapore, would it have gone unnoticed? Would the culprits be let of so easily with only probation? Probably not. We are very lucky to be born here, where a lot of things are well done and we are well protected.

It's good to know more about other countries; the happenings and the dark side of humans. This allow us to reflect and appreciate our government and the life we have. We are luckier than many others.

Watch this movie. It has affected the government in Korea and the case was reopened after 6 years. Though in the end, only two culprits were convicted, it's better than nothing. It awakened their citizens and made them reflect on the laws that put the handicapped at disadvantage.

In the movie, one of the deaf children mentioned that through this ordeal, it made them realise that they are no different from others; they have rights too.

Being handicapped do not demean their human rights. It definitely does not mean one can bully them and go scot-free.

By the way, a novel was out before this movie describing more detailed about the event. If you find this movie disturbing, you probably should not read the novel; the movie only described less than 1/3 of what the novel has written.

I would not recommend this movie to everyone but if you wish to watch; don't watch before bedtime cos it will set you thinking.